When Veterans Day hits home

Those who have lost loved ones at war ask others to remember that sacrifice

Peter Voisin, with the Henderson County Honor Guard, plays Echo Taps at the end of a of 9/11 ceremony at the Henderson County Historic Courthouse in 2011.

Mike Dirks / file

By Amy B. McCrawTimes-News Correspondent

Published: Monday, November 11, 2013 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, November 8, 2013 at 12:57 p.m.

Thoughts of America's fighting men and women may only cross your mind briefly on Veterans Day, but the observance is packed with emotion for the families and friends of area soldiers who have died in war zones.

“It's another day that punches you in the gut,” said Cameron Sproles, whose best friend, Lance Cpl. Jessie Cassada, died while serving as a Marine in Afghanistan. “It reminds you of the sacrifices made. It's another day to remember. It's real families. It's real people.”

Cassada, of Hendersonville, was only 19 years old when he was killed in action on Jan. 6, 2009.

Tom Hooper said he too relates to that “punched in the gut” feeling every Veterans Day.

Hooper's son-in-law, U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer Terry Lee Varnadore II, 29, died in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan in 2011. Hooper also lost his father in the Vietnam War when Hooper was only 7 years old.

“It's more a reminder is what it is, a reminder of the loss and change,” Hooper said of Veterans Day. “It's just a flashback. When you lose somebody during war time, it's a totally different meaning. It's more personal.”

In addition to Varnadore and Cassada, two other area soldiers have died in Afghanistan since 2007.

Staff Sgt. Charlie Bagwell, 28, of Transylvania County died in 2007 when his helicopter went down in Afghanistan. He had also served in Iraq. Pfc. Christian M. “Kade” Warriner, 19, of Mills River, died in 2010 during a battle in Afghanistan.

The deaths of all the soldiers killed in war touch many lives and reverberate for generations, Hooper said.

“Think about all the lives it alters,” he said. “It comes in layers.”

Varnadore, who grew up in Mills River, was assigned to the 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, 10th Mountain Division based at Fort Drum, N.Y. He died in a helicopter crash on April 23, 2011, in the Kapisa province in northeastern Afghanistan. He had also served in Iraq.

Varnadore's death devastated his parents, Terry and Tina Varnadore, and his wife, Casey, who is Hooper's daughter. Their two children, Ava, 6, and 2-year-old Leila will grow up without their father. Hooper and his wife, Sherry, were also crushed by Varnadore's death and the change it brought to their grandchildren's lives.

Hooper said his son-in-law's death also forced him to relive the horrible moments when he learned his own father had died in Vietnam in 1967.

He said he remembered seeing his mother sitting on the couch when she first heard that his father had died. The look of devastation on her face was the same look he saw on the face of Terry Varnadore Sr., when he first learned his son had died.

“I knew this would be forever, the anguish,” Hooper said.

Seeing his granddaughters also reminded him of what it was like as a 7-year-old to learn that his father had died.

“I related to Ava,” he said. “It's just a flashback of what happened to me. I could tell it wouldn't hit her as hard at the moment. She was pretty young.”

Cassada died in combat operations in Helmand province in Afghanistan. He served with the 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force based at Camp Lejeune.

Sproles said Cassada's death has had a similar impact on his family and friends. Holidays, birthdays and days like Veterans Day are particularly difficult, he said.

“It's always tough for his family and everyone who knew him,” Sproles said. “There is always going to be that vacancy where no one is sitting.”

Sproles said he tries to remember the good times he spent with his friend.

He also organized Jessie's Honor, which sent 5,100 care packages to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. When shipping costs forced that program to end, Sproles then worked with the Henderson County Education Foundation to form a scholarship in Cassada's memory that gives $500 each year to a student at East Henderson High School interested in the military.

Sproles said he plans to travel from Charlotte, where he now lives, to Hendersonville to visit Cassada's grave on Veterans Day, while Hooper said he also plans to visit Varnadore's grave.

They both asked that everyone take time on Veterans Day to remember soldiers and their families.

“Just for that day, recognize veterans,” Hooper said. “Just for that day, for that moment, think about somebody — a father or son — who has died.”

“When you see a veteran, you stop and shake their hands,” Sproles said.

<p>Thoughts of America's fighting men and women may only cross your mind briefly on Veterans Day, but the observance is packed with emotion for the families and friends of area soldiers who have died in war zones.</p><p>“It's another day that punches you in the gut,” said Cameron Sproles, whose best friend, Lance Cpl. Jessie Cassada, died while serving as a Marine in Afghanistan. “It reminds you of the sacrifices made. It's another day to remember. It's real families. It's real people.”</p><p>Cassada, of Hendersonville, was only 19 years old when he was killed in action on Jan. 6, 2009.</p><p>Tom Hooper said he too relates to that “punched in the gut” feeling every Veterans Day.</p><p>Hooper's son-in-law, U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer Terry Lee Varnadore II, 29, died in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan in 2011. Hooper also lost his father in the Vietnam War when Hooper was only 7 years old.</p><p>“It's more a reminder is what it is, a reminder of the loss and change,” Hooper said of Veterans Day. “It's just a flashback. When you lose somebody during war time, it's a totally different meaning. It's more personal.”</p><p>In addition to Varnadore and Cassada, two other area soldiers have died in Afghanistan since 2007.</p><p>Staff Sgt. Charlie Bagwell, 28, of Transylvania County died in 2007 when his helicopter went down in Afghanistan. He had also served in Iraq. Pfc. Christian M. “Kade” Warriner, 19, of Mills River, died in 2010 during a battle in Afghanistan.</p><p>The deaths of all the soldiers killed in war touch many lives and reverberate for generations, Hooper said.</p><p>“Think about all the lives it alters,” he said. “It comes in layers.”</p><p>Varnadore, who grew up in Mills River, was assigned to the 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, 10th Mountain Division based at Fort Drum, N.Y. He died in a helicopter crash on April 23, 2011, in the Kapisa province in northeastern Afghanistan. He had also served in Iraq.</p><p>Varnadore's death devastated his parents, Terry and Tina Varnadore, and his wife, Casey, who is Hooper's daughter. Their two children, Ava, 6, and 2-year-old Leila will grow up without their father. Hooper and his wife, Sherry, were also crushed by Varnadore's death and the change it brought to their grandchildren's lives.</p><p>Hooper said his son-in-law's death also forced him to relive the horrible moments when he learned his own father had died in Vietnam in 1967.</p><p>He said he remembered seeing his mother sitting on the couch when she first heard that his father had died. The look of devastation on her face was the same look he saw on the face of Terry Varnadore Sr., when he first learned his son had died.</p><p>“I knew this would be forever, the anguish,” Hooper said.</p><p>Seeing his granddaughters also reminded him of what it was like as a 7-year-old to learn that his father had died.</p><p>“I related to Ava,” he said. “It's just a flashback of what happened to me. I could tell it wouldn't hit her as hard at the moment. She was pretty young.”</p><p>Cassada died in combat operations in Helmand province in Afghanistan. He served with the 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force based at Camp Lejeune.</p><p>Sproles said Cassada's death has had a similar impact on his family and friends. Holidays, birthdays and days like Veterans Day are particularly difficult, he said.</p><p>“It's always tough for his family and everyone who knew him,” Sproles said. “There is always going to be that vacancy where no one is sitting.”</p><p>Sproles said he tries to remember the good times he spent with his friend.</p><p>He also organized Jessie's Honor, which sent 5,100 care packages to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. When shipping costs forced that program to end, Sproles then worked with the Henderson County Education Foundation to form a scholarship in Cassada's memory that gives $500 each year to a student at East Henderson High School interested in the military.</p><p>Sproles said he plans to travel from Charlotte, where he now lives, to Hendersonville to visit Cassada's grave on Veterans Day, while Hooper said he also plans to visit Varnadore's grave.</p><p>They both asked that everyone take time on Veterans Day to remember soldiers and their families.</p><p>“Just for that day, recognize veterans,” Hooper said. “Just for that day, for that moment, think about somebody — a father or son — who has died.”</p><p>“When you see a veteran, you stop and shake their hands,” Sproles said.</p>